Outdoor Education students kayak the Hauraki Gulf
Posted on April 19, 2024
To practise social responsibility, Year 12 Outdoor Education students recently undertook a three-day kayaking trip north of Auckland.
A group of students, teachers and guides travelled early to Sullivans Bay in the Mahurangi Regional Park. Their first campsite, Te Muri, was located just around the headland from the bay. After erecting their tents, lunch was eaten and the students were back on the water to explore Puhoi river. Some students kayaked right up the river to State Highway 1, while the remaining students attempted to sail up the river with a makeshift sail.
Day two started with a quick stopover on Saddle Island to prepare for the choppy waves that the students would face heading over to Motuora Island. They took the long way around the island, stopping off at Little Princes Bay for a quick bite to eat and to stretch their legs, after which kayaking continued around the sheltered part of the island. At this point in the journey, students were catching and riding the waves with their kayaks; enjoying the thrill of minimal work for maximum pleasure.
On Motuora Island, the students had a game of tag on the beach followed by an evening hike around the island in search of the North Island brown kiwi.
On the final day of the trip, students travelled north to Moturekareka Island where they marvelled at the size of a shipwreck before a long paddle south to Sullivans Bay where they battled strong headwinds and turbulent waters.
The kayaking trip was not only a thrilling adventure but a rich outside-the-classroom learning experience for students. It facilitated an opportunity for them to complete NCEA Achievement Standards 2.4 – ‘Perform a physical activity in an applied setting’ and 2.8 - ‘Consistently demonstrate social responsibility through applying a social responsibility model in physical activity’. Everyone had fun while learning, and most importantly, nobody capsized.
The students gleaned a lot from the guides at Auckland Sea Kayaks on an adventure that will remain in their memories for years to come. They are also thankful to Mr Cole, Miss Noble-Campbell and Mr Henderson for the coordination and work that made this trip possible.
